(March 27, 2007) -- LBReport.com posts a link below to the 2006 Academic Performance Index (API) scores for all LBUSD schools, released today (March 27) by the CA Dept. of Education. To view each school's API scores, click 2006 LBUSD Base API Scores
LBUSD separately prepared a chart permitting quick comparison between last year's (2005) API base score and the latest (2006) API score. To view it, click here.
API scores range from 200 to 1,000...with 800 as the CA Dept. of Education's "target."
The API page also include rankings of each school's performance on a scale of 1 to 10 (ten being highest) compared to all CA schools as well as compared to schools with similar demographic and economic conditions (so-called "similar schools" rank).
Among the highest scoring Elementary Schools: Naples (933), Gant (926), Lowell (923), Newcomb (877), Longfellow (876) and Kettering (872).
Among High Schools, LBUSD's (magnet) CA Academy of Math & Science had a blistering 933 API.
Sadly, no other LBUSD High School made the state target of 800...and some scored considerably lower...with some declining from a year earlier. Lakewood and Poly tied with a 726 APIs...although Poly's API increased from 714 last year while Lakewood's API declined from 731 last year. Wilson High had a 724 API, a decline from 734 last year. Millikan's API dropped 11 points to 672 from 683 last year. WLB's Cabrillo remained flat at 617. NLB's Jordan High posted a 604 API, an increase from 592 last year.
Dr. James Gulek, Ph.D, Assistant Superintendent of Research, Planning & Evaluation, offered a quick overview of the results:
- 25 LBUSD schools -- eight more than last year -- have now attained the state's target API of 800 or above.
- Roughly 3/4 of LBUSD schools either maintained or improved their API rankings when compared to schools statewide or to "similar schools" (with similar demographics and economic factors).
- LBUSD had a 14 point increase in the district's overall API score. LBUSD's overall district score (722) is now a point higher than the state's overall API (721).
- LBUSD outperformed the state API among African-American students (658 vs. 635, 23 points higher), and among Hispanic/Latino students (688 vs. 656, 32 points higher). and among English-language learners (662 vs. 637, 25 points higher) and among white students (831 vs. 801, 30 points higher).
- A noteworthy high point: Edison Elementary, with 99% of students deemed economically disadvantaged and 23% English language learners, had a 796 API...just four points from the statewide 800 target.
In a release, the CA Dept. of Education acknowledged what it called "traditionally higher and lower scoring subgroups....defined by ethnicity, socio-economic, and disability status as well as whether or not a student is an English learner." State Superintendent of Public Instruction Jack O'Connell said in the release, ""While our schools are showing steady overall progress, I am deeply concerned that significant gaps exist between the API results for different subgroups of students. I have begun an intensive effort to find ways to close the gap that exists between successful students who are often white or Asian, and financially well off, and struggling students who are too often poor, Hispanic, African American, English learners, or with a disability."
The CA Dept. of Education release continued:
Since the API system originated in 1999, schools have been expected not only to meet schoolwide academic growth targets but also student subgroup targets. However, this year the API will focus schools more intensely on narrowing achievement gaps. In May 2006, the State Board of Education adopted O’Connell’s recommendation to increase the API growth targets for subgroups. Subgroup targets had been set at 80 percent of the schoolwide target. Beginning with this API report, growth targets are now calculated separately for each student subgroup within a school and set at 5 percent growth toward an API of 800. Also, schools and subgroups will be expected to make a minimum improvement of five points up to the performance target of 800.
"Holding all students to the same high standards ensures a culture of high expectations for everyone," O’Connell said. "As a state, we have a moral, ethical, and economic obligation to address the needs of every group of students."
So why are Elementary School APIs higher than Middle and High School APIs? Dr. Gulek said there could be many factors, including the scope of subjects tested. In the lower grades, the API exam is English Language Arts and Math...but by High School, it's English, Math plus Science and History/Social sciences, he noted...adding that these differences are reflected in statewide numbers as well.
The CA Dept. of Education said in its release that this year's figures "reflect a recalibration of the API results previously reported in August 2006 based on the addition of results from new 2006 science assessments. The new assessments include the California Standards Test (CST) in science in grade eight and the CST in life science in grade ten. Added emphasis was given to science in the high school API calculation."
The API reflects a school’s composite academic achievement from a variety of statewide assessments. Student test results include the Standardized Testing and Reporting (STAR) Program, plus results from the California High School Exit Exam (CAHSEE), encompassing content areas of English-language arts, mathematics, science, and history.